Students at Colonie Central High School are collecting plastic bags to make mats for the homeless.

Every day, students, staff and teachers are cutting plastic bags, winding them into balls of “yarn,” and then some of them are using crochet needles to turn the plastic into mats.

The project is an outgrowth of an effort by a student group called iCARE to raise awareness of poverty in the district, but has grown far beyond the group.

Some 200 students are already playing a role. Now they are working to expand the project to every other school in the district, as well as working with community organizations like the Girl Scouts.

“Our goal is to create plastic bag mats to help the homeless,” said Abigail Pickett, a senior and co-president of the student group. “It gives them a measure of comfort and can keep them safe from freezing.”